Shredding meat, whether it is pork, beef, or poultry, provides a versatile way to serve a dish. Shredding meat improves texture and allows the meat to be tossed in a sauce, easily soaking up its flavor. Learning how to shred meat will allow you to use this preparation for a variety of sandwiches, soups, and stews.

Steps

1

Cook the meat all the way through. Raw or partially cooked meats will not shred. The type of preparation you should use will vary based on the type of meat and the desired application.

Poultry is tender enough to be shredded well after nearly any cooking preparation. Poaching the meat in water will leave the flavor as neutral as possible, which is ideal for tossing it in a sauce. Low-temperature methods like braising and smoking will allow you to shred the meat most easily.

Tender cuts of beef or pork, like tenderloin, should be cooked using a high-temperature method like grilling or sautéing. Cook the meat all the way through for the best results.

Tough cuts of meat, such as skirt steak or brisket, require a slow, low-temperature cooking method like braising or smoking. These cuts have a high amount of connective tissue, and will not pull apart readily unless cooked for a long time.

2

Let the meat rest after cooking. Once the meat is fully cooked, allow it to rest before shredding it; if cut into immediately after cooking, the meat will dry out. For most applications, the meat should be removed from the heat source and placed under a loose tent of aluminum foil. Braised meats are better left to rest in the braising liquid.

3

Place the meat in a large, shallow bowl or platter. Use 2 forks to pull the meat apart; place the first fork into the meat and hold it steady, and then place the second fork into the meat and pull it away from the first fork. Repeat this process until all of the meat has been shredded into small pieces. It is easiest to shred when the fork tines are aligned with the grain of the meat, while pulling against the grain.

4

Continue cooking the shredded meat if desired. Once shredded, the meat can be served as is, or you can continue to cook it. Shredded meat for tacos or sandwiches, for example, can be left to simmer in a highly seasoned sauce before serving.

5

Serve the meat as desired. After cooking and shredding the meat, serve it as appropriate.